Male veiled chameleon with dark tip of the tail

[Jeremy magsanoc]

Help I noticed my Adult Male Veiled chameleon not using his tail as much as he did in the past and has a dark discoloration on the tip of the tail. I noticed the discoloration 3 days ago.
Thinking of getting vet help but not sure what they could do.

Here are the details regarding his enclosure.
Homemade mesh cage
- 36 inches wide
- 48 inches tall
- 24 inches depth

Lighting
- Zoomed UVB 5.0
- 75-Watt heat bulb 95 degrees Fahrenheit basking zone
- Arcadia Jungle Dawn LED light

Feeding
Dubia Roaches is his staple. Feed three times a week.
- 2-3 Roaches every feeding
- Hornworms, Waxworms, and Black Soldier Larvae for Variety

Gutloading for Dubia Roaches
- Mustard greens
- Collard greens
- Alfalfa sprouts
- Carrots
- Arcadia Insect Fuel
- Repashy Bug Burger
- Repashy Super Load

Supplements
- Arcadia Earth pro-A every feeding
- Arcadia Calcium pro twice a month
- Arcadia Revitalize D3 twice a month

Hydration
Using a MistKing system.
- 1-minute misting sessions in the morning and the evening.
- 20-second misting duration throughout the day
- 10-second misting duration throughout the night
- 4-hour fogging sessions during the night
40% humidity during the day
60% humidity during the night

Please let me know if there are any other details that you would like to know.
Thank you.

 

[CalamityCrow]

Hello! I have a few questions for you that may help us figure things out.

Can you post some full body pictures of your guy? It's hard to tell... it could be a bruise, it could be a burn. Could be something else. Is he acting strangely in any other ways?

As far as your husbandry, most of it looks pretty solid. The first thing I see is your basking area is too hot. He should be at 85 max, and that's where his casque is. A digital probe thermometer should read 80-83 or so at its peak.

Does he screen climb at all? If he's able to climb right under that heat bulb, it's possible he's gotten burned. You know it's too hot if you put your hand up under it and feel the need to move your hand away because it's uncomfortably warm.

I also have to wonder if perhaps he got his tail caught in the bars you have at the base of the cage. I haven't seen a base like that before. Does he crawl around there much? Or if he got it jammed one of the little spiral small vines wrapped around the big ones and he had trouble unwrapping it perhaps?

https://chameleonacademy.com/chameleon-medical-discolored-skin/ If you haven't gone here, it may be worth taking a look.

 

[Jeremy magsanoc]

I attached some photos but he is asleep. I will take more tomorrow. He is currently in a different cage for now. But that’s true 95 degrees sounds a bit hot. He doesn’t climb the cage. But some times I see him hanging on with only his tail. Not sure if he lost his grip, fell and hurt his tail but could have been a possibility. Also a little of topic but in that picture there is some sort of growth on the Left side of his lip. I think it was caused when he ate a Roach and the poop came out and was left on his lip. I will Probably make another post about that. Sorry if the Photos didn’t come out to well. Let me know if you want me to retake them.
Thank you for your thoughts.

 

[CalamityCrow]

It actually looks like he might have a few things going on. His tail is indeed looking rough. Have you seen him moving it in that lower third at all?

I'd describe the growth issue on his face you're seeing, with more pics when he wakes up. You can keep it in this thread, that way all issues can be addressed in one spot for one Cham. I don't know much about growths but that could be any number of things... I'd suggest a vet checkup for your boy for it and the tail. Often it's hard to get in with exotic vets so I'd try and get an appointment soonest.

You said you have the Zoomed 5.0. That's the linear bulb right? T5 or T8? When was the last time you changed it?

Calling in @Beman @MissSkittles and/or @kinyonga for their more experienced opinions as well.

 

[Jeremy magsanoc]

Thank you. Yes it is a linear T5 5.0. I haven’t seen him use that lower third. What do you think the vet will do? amputate?

 

[CalamityCrow]

Thank you. Yes it is a linear T5 5.0. I haven’t seen him use that lower third. What do you think the vet will do? amputate?

I couldn't tell you what a vet might do. First thing would be to figure out what is actually wrong. And a vet visit if he's got a growth on his mouth is also important - it could be an infection. They hide their illnesses well.

 

[MissSkittles]

Hi. Was it night time when you took that pic with his eyes closed? Has he been closing his eyes at any time when his lights are on? Is he still able to move that part of his tail? Is the black discoloration spreading at all or changing in any way that you’ve noticed? How long has he had the spot on his lip? It doesn’t look like bug guts to me, but have you taken a moistened a tip and tried to gently remove it? I think a vet visit is always your best action. There is a lot that they can do if he is having a serious issue with his tail. If that is a growth by his mouth, there’s also things they can do for that. Also, if he hasn’t had a facel check for parasites, make sure to take a fresh poo to the vet for that as well.

 

[Beman]

Hi there per your husbandry the only things I see that need to be corrected are the basking temp. 95 is far too hot. You want to kick that down to 80-85 max. And make sure you are not feeding the repashy superload to your roaches. This one is too high in protein and can cause them to build up extra uric acid. This is something the cham can have issues with and in turn compromise how well his renal system works.

Per the vet... Needs a good reptile vet. The growth on the side of the mouth needs to be removed. Then there is also a small spot on the side of his casque that should be looked at. If I had to guess about the tail I would bet on a fall and he either managed to grab with the tail causing damage or hit just right on the spine causing damage to the tail function.

He is holding some extra weight you can tell by the casque being puffy and the cheeks being puffy. I would not feed him more than 2-3 feeders 3 days a week and see if he starts to drop some grams. Being overweight in chams is dangerous. If it is showing that much in the face then he has a fat pad in the body which surrounds the organs.

I would get some more branches or flukers fake vines in the thicker size. Put them all through out that cage. so if another fall happens he has more surfaces to grab.

Make sure the uvb bulb has been replaced, they need to be replaced every 6-9 months for the zoomed brand.

 

[kinyonga]

Please post more photos of your chameleon so I can see the bump on its mouth and it’s arms from the side.

 

[Jeremy magsanoc]

Thank you for Your advice. That photo was taken during the night and he doesn’t close his eyes during the day. I haven Tried gently removing it but I will try. That growth on the side has been there for about three months. The discoloration on his tail isn’t changing or spreading.

Yes the temperature is too high. And I also did some research on the Super load and that it can have some negative effects. Including edema. I stoped using super load. Thank you for pointing out his weight. I will lower his feeders. Also that little indentation on this tail is normal it was there when I got him. I will get more vines too thank you.

I will sent an appointment for him as soon as possible. Thank you.

 

[Jeremy magsanoc]

There is also slight movement throughout his tail.

 

[Beman]

It is good that he does have some movement to the tail. Hopefully it comes back completely.
Your boy has edema... This is caused by an imbalance in the body almost always linked to incorrect supplementation with fat soluble vitamins. However we have also seen it with bee pollen. Are you using any other supplements besides the arcadia? Any bee pollen?
All arcadia supplements have bee pollen. These may be too much for his system to handle. I would switch him to a plain phosphorus free calcium without D3 for all feedings and then only use the Revitalise D3 two times a month say the 1st and the 15th. It can take weeks for the edema to subside. Make sure he has access to water dripping during the day so he can drink as much as he needs to. This will help flush his body.

 

[Jeremy magsanoc]

Sounds great. Yes I have been having a dripper ready for him during the day. Any calcium Supplement without D3 you recommend?

 

[Beman]

Sounds great. Yes I have been having a dripper ready for him during the day. Any calcium Supplement without D3 you recommend?

Hey yeah I prefer the repashy Supercal NoD. This is a really fine phosphorous free plain No D3 calcium. If your giving any additional bee pollen or adding additional to your gutload stop that as well.

 

[Jeremy magsanoc]

Okay great. Thank you guys for all the help and advice. I will be bringing him to the vet soon. Thank you!

 

[CalamityCrow]

Okay great. Thank you guys for all the help and advice. I will be bringing him to the vet soon. Thank you!

Please keep us updated with his healing progress.

 

[Jeremy magsanoc]

Yes, will do.

 

[Jeremy magsanoc]

Update: I went to the vet 1 week ago. This is what I learned.
- There are no broken bones
- Inflamed kidneys
- Dark color is a skin infection

Treatment:
Oral antibiotics to help with kidneys and the skin infection.

Here are some pictures of it.

Thank you.

 

[GrannyK]

So glad you got some answers!! Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery to the little dude! Thank you for sharing your experience, this may help others in the future

 

[Jeremy magsanoc]

Of course, hoping for a recovery too. Thank you.